Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Have You Seen the WAGONS???

Gen. 45:25-28 And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not. And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived: And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.

Jacob had a rough life in many ways;
  1. He thought his favorite son, Joseph, was dead.
  2. There was a tremendous famine and he had to send his remaining sons, less one, to Egypt for food.
  3. When his sons got back, it was minus Simeon, who was detained in Egypt. The Prime Minister (they didn’t know that it was Joseph) demanded that they return home and bring back their youngest brother with them.
  4. After much hesitation Jacob consented to send Benjamin with the others back to Egypt.

Jacob was evidently depressed by the events of his life, until he heard the words of Joseph sent to him; "…and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived: " Joseph saw the wagons as evidence that his son was alive and he revived.

When we feel depressed and out of sorts we need to look at the evidence that God has given us. We need to see the “W. A. G. O. N. S.” and be revived.

W. - WONDERS (of Calvary) - John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

A. - ASSURANCE - Rom. 8:15-17 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

G. - GRACE - Eph. 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. 2 Cor. 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

O. - OMNIPOTENCE - Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Eph. 1:21-22 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

N. - NEARNESS - Heb. 13:5b for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Heb. 10:22-23 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

S. - SECURITY - John 10:27-30 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.

Excerpt of sermon notes from Pastor Jack Peters

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1 Comments:

Blogger Jerry Bouey said...

This is interesting. I tackled this passage last week at the Mission. Was doing a look at revival. The Bible does not use that word, but it does use "revive" and forms of it. This is the first occasion where the word "revived" is used.

How was Jacob revived? By hearing the word of Joseph (and seeing the proof behind the words - ie. the wagons outside). This pictures us being revived by hearing the Word of God and seeing God's goodness to us.

Psalm 27:13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

11:56 AM  

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